Minnow pail attachment



June 19, 1962 C. J. SEMELKA MINNOW PAIL ATTACHMENT Filed June 29, 1959Carl Joseph .Seme/ka INVENTOR- United States Patent 3,039,225 MINNOWPAIL ATTACHMENT Carl Joseph Semelka, 5843 Rega Drive, Toledo 13, OhioFiled June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,648 1 (liaim. (Cl. 4356) The presentinvention relates generally to minnow pails or buckets and has for itsprimary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novelmeans for facilitating the selection and removal of the bait from suchreceptacles Without wetting the hmd or sleeve.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a baitlifting or elevating device of the character described which may beexpeditiously mounted for use on a conventional minnow pail withoutstructurally altering said pail in any Way.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a minnow pail attachmentof the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a minnow pail attachment constructedin accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical section through a portion of aconventional minnow pail, showing the device in lowered positiontherein; and,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view substantially similar to FIGURE 2but showing the pail open with the attachment in elevated positiontherein.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that referencecharacter 4 designates the usual perforated inner section or member of aconventional minnow pail or bucket which is designated generally byreference character 5. The pail 5 is to be filled to the desired levelwith water, as indicated at 6. The inner section or member 4 of theminnow pail 5 comprises a top '7 having a circular access opening 8therein for which a vertically swingable, perforated cover or lid 9 isprovided.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedcomprises a resilient, circular frame or split ring 10 of suitablemetal, preferably aluminum. Mounted in the split ring 10 is a slightlysagging net 11 of suitable flexible material. In the embodiment shown,

Patented June 19, 1962 "ice the net 11 includes a peripheral hem orpocket 12 through which the ring it is slipped.

The split ring 10 terminates in arcuate mounting arms 13. The arcuatearms 13 terminate in straight free end portions 14 which are insertablethrough a selected pair of the usual perforations 15 in the cover 9 andwhich, if desired, may then be angularly bent for anchoring said arms insaid perforations.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the cover 9 is opened and thefree end portions 14 of the arms 13 are inserted through a pair of theperforations 15 at a point adjacent the hinge 16 of said cover. When sodoing the arms 13 may be forced toward each other or separated fortensioning the split ring 1%). With the cover 9 in closed position, asshown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the net 11 is substantially submergedin the water 6 in the back or rear portion of the minnow pail. When itis desired to select and remove a minnow the cover 9 is swung upwardlyto open position thereby elevating the net 11 with the bait caughttherein to a position just above the surface of the water in alignmentwith the opening 8. The selected minnow may then be conveniently removedin an obvious manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A bait lifting attachment for minnow pails of the type comprising a tophaving an access opening therein and a hinged, vertically swingablecover for the opening mounted on the top and having perforationstherein, said attachment comprising: a split, resilient metallic ringoperable through the opening and in the pail, a circular net mounted onsaid ring, and arcuate mounting arms integral with the ends of the ring,said arms including bendable free end portions engageable selectively inthe perforations for fixedly hanging the attachment on the lower side ofthe cover for swinging movement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS986,229 Seeger Mar. 7, 1911 1,110,892 Cather Sept. 15, 1914 2,741,053Moore Apr. 10, 1956

